2016 Participants
Fiona Tay
Lithium is used for bipolar disorder; however, not all patients respond to it. This project aims to improve the understanding on the effects of lithium to brain with respect to the morphology and composition, using magnetic resonance imaging technique and computer software packages. Two different groups are being recruited; 25 patients with bipolar disorder taking lithium, and 6 healthy comparator subjects. Subjects undergo comprehensive clinical assessment and imaging on a 3T Phillips Archieva MR scanner. The structural MRI data are pre-processed and statistically analysed with computer software packages such as MATLAB, SPM 12, Computational Anatomical Toolbox (CAT), and SPSS. The results were normalised to the total intracranial volume (TIV) as the raw images of brain differs between individuals. Lastly, the statistical results suggested that lithium has no effect on the TIV; while it causes a small loss of grey matter in brain.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Supervisor: Dr David Cousins